The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1887-10-06
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
A Farraginous Feast of Facts Fresh
From the National Capital.


Special Correspondence of The Sentinel.
WASHINGTON, D. G. Oct. 3.-As
We are slipping off into winter
again the fashionable world returning
to town is confronted with the annual
riddle which is the sphinx Of modern
society-"to whom shall we send
cards? % for it has been decreed that
as the card is sufficient notice that they
are at home and prepared to receive
callers, strict care and discrimination
must be observed by fashionable cir
cles in leaving or sending out cards.
The social world each year has a ses-
son of predatory activity Immediately
following the assembling of the Su-
preme Court of the Uuited States, on
the second Monday in October now
near at hand. 1t is customary for the
ssurt AFTER assembling on that day,
and receiving the directions of the
Chief Justice, to adjourn and in a body
with its officers to make a ceremonial
call upon the President, to extend him
the fluctuations of the beginning of
the active season of the official year
and the approach of the period of the
intermingling of the elements of social
gaiety at the Capital. AS the Presi-
dent, according to present plans, will
be absent from the city, the Court
will simply leave card. A similar
recognition of the rules of ceremonial
etiquette Is accorded to the President
pro tempore of the Senate at his of
fetal place, there being no Vice Presi-
dent. The President does not return
the call. The President pro tempore
does, upon the Chief Justice, soon af-
ter his return to the city. These dis
distinctively official calls of ceremony
are followed within week by calls Of
etiquette among the members of the
court and their ladies, all calling up
on the Chief Justice AID lady first,
and Junior upon senior Justice, which
calls are returned i'll the same order.
After this necessary prelude of con-
ventional etiquette has been passed,
the ladies of the court are prepared to
receive calls from friends beyond the
court circle. From this time forward
the ball of social life moves along with
increasing Importance and impetus,
taking its grand departure on New
Years Day, eliminating during the
following weeks until the curtain falls
on the first day of Lent
The Capitol has undergone its an
nual scrubbing and cleaning, and will
soon be ready for the assembling OF
Congress. Particular attention has
been paid to the Senate wing, which
has been generally repainted, regilded
and refurnished. The new carpet
which is being manufactured i'll Mas
sachusetts is almost completed and
will soon be in place. Several new
desks have been made, but there
seems to be a preference among the
Senators for the old ones, especially
those occupied by such men as Clay,
Webster akd Sumner; for some time
past there has been still hunt for
Daniel Webster's desk; and the search
has narrowed down to choice, be-
tween three, one of which it is known
Webster occupied, and there is a
friendly rivalry almost school boyish
in its enthusiasm among the digni-
fed Senators for possession Of the val
ued relic.
The opinion that the approaching
session of Congress will be a lively
one prevails among public men Of all
shades of political opinion. 1t is now
generelly conceded that Mr.. Carlisle
will have walk over for the speaker
ship. Though strong partisan, he
kRs been eAiaently just in all his rul-
ings, and has always commanded the
respect of both sides of the House and
very few would wish to see him super
coded. There will be many new mem
bers in the next Congress, some of
whom will undoubtedly make their
mark. Knowing ones predicted that
John W.Daniels, who succeeded, from
Virginia, though new Senator will
be found iu the front rank by reason
of his public training and high stand
ing at the bar. Indeed, it seems no
longer an offense for new Senator to
take an active part in debate. The
old idea which required him to remain
silent for year or two seems to have
been exploded. 1t is quite common
now for the Senator freshly invested
with his toga to have his say among
the old members of that body.
Ard this reminds me of an incident
of ingalls, early days in the Senate, as
related by one of the Willard Hotel
"Majahs." II guess" said the majah
"that nobody has any serious doubts
about the honesty of old Edmunds,
but it was very comically called in
question one day in the Senate by In
gals, of Kansas. A bill was up for
providing fer large land grants to the
Kansas Pacific road. AS the matter
was locally of great Importance to In
gals people, ne made a strong argu-
nent in behalf Of the bill; when he
finished Edmunds slowly unwound
himself and observed in his whitening
and drawing tone, that he should op-
pose the measure, not because there
were no meritorious features in the
bill, but because he had every reason
to believe there was strong lobby in
its interests. This brought ingalls, to
his feet. He looked Edmund's square
in the face and then deliberately said
Mr.. President, I am really not aware
of any lobby organized in behalf Of
this bill; if the Senator from Yer.
mont is so very positive on the sub.
ject, I presume the lobby knew just
whom to approach The effect was
tremendous. Ingalls, was compare.
lively young Member of the body